It’s being reported that HBO has given the greenlight to a new series called Boardwalk Empire. Eleven episodes of the show have been ordered to start the ball rolling. This is another in a slew of new shows that HBO is bringing to the table — a table that features, or has featured, some of the best shows on TV. Empire will be joined by another drama called Treme, which is set in New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina and is from the creators of The Wire. If the much-talked about fantasy show Game of Thrones — based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series — gets the full greenlight, then HBO will have one of the most exciting TV slates imaginable…if they don’t already have it.

Boardwalk Empire is a period show that’s based on the book of the same name by Nelson Johnson, which takes place in the roaring ’20s during prohibition. It follows Nucky Thompson (set to be played by Steve Buscemi), who acts as “equal parts politician and gangster,” while building a prosperous illegal alcohol selling empire.

To do even one better here, the living god of cinema himself, Martin Scorsese will be directing the pilot episode, and staying on as an executive producer for the rest of the show, along with Terence Winter, who also created the show and worked on The Sopranos, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, and Tim Van Patten.

Boardwalk Empire is looking to begin production soon with unveiling coming some time next year. The show will feature a great supporting cast that includes Michael Pitt (The Dreamers, Funny Games), Kelly Macdonald (No Country for Old Men), Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road, Bug), Shea Whigham (Fast & Furious), Dabney Coleman (Tootsie, Dragnet), and Stephen Graham (Snatch, Gangs of New York).

[Source: Variety]